Electrical switch.



ED. HORTON.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1 914- 1,184,45 4. Patented May23, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

I I g 46 m 44 QT B. 0. HORTON.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

-APPLICATION FILED JAN.2.1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 47 4f 1 7 0 FIG.5

Patented May 23, 1916.

UNITED sTATns PATENT OFFICE.

BRYSON D. HORTON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Application filed January 2, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BRYSON D. HORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michi an, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switches, of which the following taken in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings is a full, clear and concise description thereof.

My invention relates more particularly to that class or type of electrical switches, which are commonly referred to as protected or armor-clad, that isswitches in which the live metal or current carrying parts are inclosed within and protected by but insulated from, a metallic housing. The rapidly increasing utilization of electrical power to industrial purposes has come spondingly increased and made greater the element of life hazard. In order to safely and efficiently provide for the proper handling or control of electrical current, this type of armor-clad switch has been devised.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide in a switch of this general type, a mechanism of simplified construction of increased electrical efliciency and one possessing a maximum degree of protection against accidental shock during manipulation and with all a switch, the parts of which may be rendered easily accessible for inspection or repair purposes.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated by way of example, one preferable embodiment of my invention, in which Figure 1 illustrates a top plan view of the switch with the hinged cover or lid opened, Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line AA of Fig. 1, with the lid, however, in its closed position. Fig. l is a similar view with the lid partly raised, but with the switch mechanism in its on or contact making position.

As will be observed, all of the stationary and movable switch parts, excepting the operating lever, are mounted within the body portion of the receptacle, thus presenting the same in position when the cover is open to allow of the operation thereof to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Serial No. 809,880.

ascertain the condition and operativeness of the parts. Furthermore, it is desirable where an alternating current of a pressure of 600 volts is handled and in which case the live metal parts are submerged in oil to position all of the parts within the body of the receptacle so as to avoid the possibility of the oil being carried and thrown by the movement of the movable parts of the switch mechanism, as would be the re sult if the movable parts were mounted upon the bottom of the cover of the receptacle.

In detail, the body portion of the metal housing is indicated by the numeral 1. To the top of this body portion and inclosing a portion thereof is a removable plate 2 provided with openings or apertures 3 for the accommodation of the wire carrying conduits. The balance of the top opening is closed by a cover Q suitably hinged at 5. The stationary contacts are of jaw-formation and are indicated at 6. These are mounted upon and insulated from supports 7, which are fast to the bottom of the housing 1. Cooperatively associated with the stationary contacts are the movable con tacts S of knife-blade formation. These contacts are mounted upon a reciprocating cross-head 9 but insulated therefrom by sheet mica or other insulating material 10. The numeral 11 indicates a pair of guide rods, for the reciprocating cross-head 9, the latter being provided with sleeves 12, which serve as alining and bearing members through which the guide rods reciprocate. Upon the tops of guide rods 11 are positioned limiting steps, which control or limit the upward movement of the cross-head 9 when the movable contacts are thrown to their off position. These limiting stops consist of nuts 13, metal washers 14-, and leather or flexible washers 15, the latter serving in a measure to cushion the blow or force of the upward spring actuated movement of the movable contact carrying cross-head. Connected with the respective movable contacts 8 are fuse clips 16 for the accommodation of the ends of a suitable fuse (not shown).

It is desirable in switches of this character to provide a mechanism which will as sure a quick make and break action of the switch mechanism. In order to accomplish this, I have in a compact and simplified manner, provided such a mechanism which may conveniently be described as comprising two spiral springs 17 of the compression type, mounted upon a pair of telescopically mounted pins 18, one end of one pin being reduced and having a sliding fit within a bore providing in the opposite pin, thus maintaining perfect alinement of each and also permitting of their reciprocation with respect to each other. The ends of the spring bear upon fixed stops or plates 19 fast to the pins 18. The ends of the telescoping pins 18 are conical or pointed and rest in circular depressions 20 and 21, the former being provided in the enlarged base at'the lower extremities of the guide rods 11 and the latter being provided in the extremity of a depending projection 22 carried by the cross-head 9. These springs are put under a compressive tension during the movement of the cross-head until the telescoping pins 18 are brought into substantial alinement, during either the make or break movement of the mechanism. As soon as the telescoping pins 18 move past or out of their dead center or alined position, the stored spring energy is abruptly spent or exerted toward accelerating the movement of the cross-head 9 and knife con tacts 8 in either of these two directions of movement.

The telescoping pins 18 assume a horizontal position just as the contacts are about to engage one another, when the pins are moved from the horizontal on the down stroke, the knife-blades 8 enter and move downwardly between the jaws 6 with a quick snappy movement under the influence of this spring tension. Upon the up-stroke, as the knife-blade contacts are breaking connection from the j aw contacts, there is a slight lag in their movement until the telescoping pins 18 move from the horizontal, at which time the expansive force or power of spring 17 causes a quick break action between the contacts.

In order to operate the switch, I provide a rock shaft, 23 journa-led in the sides of the casing 1. Upon the end of this rock shaft and exterior of the casing is a suitable operating crank 24. The rock shaft is provided with two interior arms 25 and 26, which have operable connection with the cross-head 9. This connection is a yielding connection, and one which serves to accelerate and make still more rapid the make or break movement of the switch mechanism. I accomplish this by providing a saddle or U-shaped metal piece 27 provided with perforated extensions 28, through which extend connecting links 29, the lower extremities of which are provided with limiting stops in the form of cotter pins 30. The upper ends of these links are connected to the arms 25 and 26. Surrounding the links 29 and fast to the links at one end and the extensions 28 at the other end, are spiral springs 31. In the operation of this yielding connection, the links 29 are adapted to partially move independent of the crosshead 9, the latter moving only when a suiiicient amount of power has been applied to either compress or expand the springs 31 to the extent required to impart movement to said cross-head during the make or break action of the switch. In this spring connection, the operating power is stored and suddenly spent or expended at the time that contact is being made or broken, thus a decisive and quick action is obtained. This stored up energy suddenly applied, supplements the similar spring action imparted by the springs 18, so by this combination of springs acting in the manner specified, increased operating efliciency is obtained. 32 indicates a rearward extension or stop to arm 25, which engages the end of the housing 1 upon the mechanism being thrown to its 01f position, thus preventing the application or transmission of too much strain or power to the switch mechanism during the throw of the switch mechanism to its off position, which might otherwise result in derangement or destruction of the parts.

The reduction or minimizing of the element of life hazard in the handling of high potential currents is one of the objects of my present invention and in order to decrease this hazard during. the manipulation of the switch, I have provided an automatic locking means which prevents the cover from being opened and access had to the interior live metal parts when the switch is in its on position, in which position the current is flowing. This I accomplish by providing partial rotary motion'of this pin during the oscillatory movement of the rock shaft and arm'25 moves it into and out of its engaging position with the foot 33 when the mechanism is thrown on or or? as the case might be. When the switch mechanism is off, the member 33 is free of the pin 34: and the cover may be opened but in this position, the mechanism is locked and cannot be operated without manually releasing it as will be presently explained. lVhen the cover is closed, the switch mechanism may be freely operated. Therefore, as explained, when the switch mechanism is in engages the foot 33 preventing the raising of the cover and when it is desired to gain access to the interior of the receptacle, the operating crank or handle 24 must first be operated to throw the switch to its 01f position, which results in throwing the pin 34 out of engagement with the hook or foot 33 permitting the cover to be opened. Now, when the mechanism is in this position, that isthe off position with the cover open, I provide against accidental shock by preventing the thoughtless manipulation of the switch when the cover is open and the metal parts exposed and accomplish this by locking the mechanism in its off position automatically. I mount a trigger mechanism upon the inside wall of the easing, which trigger mechanism cooperates and engages with the pin 34 when the latter moves upwardly during the operation of the switch and thus prevents the switch mechanism from being thrown to its on position, while the cover is open. This trigger mechanism consists of a member 35 journaled at 36 to the side of the casing. This member is provided with a foot or hook 37, which cooperates with the pin 34 as explained, when the cover is opened thus preventing the mechanism from being operated. This trigger is held in this engaging position by a spring 38, one end of which is fast to the side of the casing, while the opposite end is fast to the rearwardly extending foot 39. In order to close the switch, it is necessary to release the trigger by throwing the foot 37 out of engagement with the pin 34. This may be accomplished manually, should it be desired to manipulate the switch for inspection purposes by the operator, depressing the trigger or ex tending finger piece 40, thus releasing the mechanism and permitting the operating handle to be moved to throw the switch. Should this be done, it becomes impossible in this position to close the cover of the receptacle, as the foot 33 of the member 33 is in engaging position with the pin 34 as shown in Fig. 4. This necessitates the throwing of the switch mechanism into its 01f position to permit of the closing of the cover, in which position the mechanism be comes automatically locked again, as has been explained.

Now, in order to release the mechanism so that it can be thrown into its on position when the cover is closed, the depending hook 83 is provided with a pin 41, which engage-s the finger piece 40 on its downward movement into cover-closing position. This oscillates or swings the trigger mechanism throwing or swinging the foot 35 out from engagement with the pin 34 as shown in Fig.

3, thus permitting the switch mechanism to be freely operated when the cover is closed.

In order to provide for a convenient looking of the mechanism in its off position, I provide a perforated extension 42 fast to the exterior side of the casing, which is provided with an aperture through which a similar perforated extension 48 may project. Through this latter perforated extension 43 may be inserted the bow of a suit able padlock, thus providing for the positive locking of the mechanism in its oft mechanism.

In order to maintain the cover in its closed position, I have provided a. convenient fas tening means consisting of an I-screw 44 and cooperating wing-nut 45, the I-screw 44 being mounted upon a bearing 46 carried by the body of the casing and said I-screw and wing-nut cooperating with the slotted lug 47 extending from the lid to hold and maintain the latter in its closed position.

hile I have described one preferable embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise structural details shown, as the same may be varied or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an iron-clad switch of the character described, a quick make and break mechanism, including a rock shaft, a pair of arms mounted thereon, a bridge piece provided with abutme-nts, resiliently attached to the outer ends of the arms, guide rods provided with abutments, a pair of telescoping rods interposed between the abutments of the guide rods and bridge piece and helical springs mounted upon the telescoping rods.

2. In an iron-clad switch of the character described, including a casing provided with a hinged cover, a hook extension carried by the cover, a rock shaft, rock arms mounted upon said shaft, a stop carried by one of the arms in position to engage the hook extension of the cover to preclude the raising of the cover without first opening the switch.

3. In an ironclad switch of the character described, including a casing provided with a hinged cover, a spring-actuated bell crank lever mounted upon the inner side of the switch casing and having a hooked extension, a rock shaft, arms mounted thereon, a stop carried by one of the arms adapted to engage the hooked extension of the bell-crank lever when the cover is open, a stop carried by the cover adapted to engage the other arm of the bell-crank ever when the cover is closed.

4. In a switch of the character described, the combination with a metallic housing provided with. a hinged cover, a switch mechanism mounted entirely within the body portion of the housing, said switch mechanism comprising a plurality of stationary and movable contacts, said movable contacts being arranged for vertical reciprocation, a rock shaft mounted in the sides of the casing a pair of arms carried by the rock shaft and having a yielding operative connection with the movable contacts, an operating crank exterior of the casing connected with said rock shaft to provide for the exterior manipulation of the switch mechanism, cooperative means carried by the switch mechanism and the cover of the receptacle for preventing the opening of the cover when the switch mechanism is in its on position said means including a hook extension carried by the cover and a cooperating stop'carried by one of the arms in position to engage therewith.

5. In a switch of the character described, the combination of a metallic housing provided with a hinged lid, a switch mechanism comprising a plurality of stationary and cooperating movable contacts mounted within the body of said housing, a crosshead carrying said movable contacts, guide rods cooperating with said cross-head and fixedly mounted upon the base of the housing, means for causing the contact carrying cross-head to reciprocate on said guide rods, means for accelerating the movement of said cross-head during the make and break action of the contacts, said means including a plurality of spiral springs, co-- operating with the cross-head and guide rods, said parts being so arranged that said spiral springs will be put under a compressive tension during a partial operation of the switch mechanism, said spring tension thereafter being exerted during the further operation of the switch mechanism to effect a quick make or break between the contacts, a rock shaft journaled in the sides of the casing, said rock shaft having a yielding connection with the cross-head, said yielding connection including a plurality of spiral springs adapted to be put under spring tension during the operation of the switch prior to the make or break movements of the contacts, said spring tension being a compressive spring tension upon the make operation and an expansive spring tension on the break operation, in both operations supplementing the spring power of the first-mentioned springs to accelerate the movement thereof.

6. In a switch of the character described, the combination of a metallic housing provided with a hinged cover, stationary contacts mounted within and upon the base of said housing cooperating movable contacts reclprocally mounted withln the body of the housing, means comprising splral sprmgs adapted to accelerate the movement of said tion with said movable contacts and adapted to cooperate with and impart stored spring power to make or break the connection between said contacts, a locking mechanism mounted upon the side of the body of the housing cooperating with one of the rock arms for locking the movable contacts in their off position, said locking mechanism adapted to be manually operated to release said rock arm so that the movable contacts may-be thrown into their on position.

7. In a switch of the character described, the combination of a metallic housing provided with a hinged cover, stationary contacts mounted within and upon the base of said housing, cooperating movable contacts reciprocally mounted within the body of the housing, means comprising spiral springs adapted to accelerate the movement of said movable contacts, a rock shaft provided with a plurality of arms having yielding connection with said movable contacts and adapted to cooperate with and impart stored spring power to make or break the connection between said contacts, a locking mechanism mounted upon the side of the body of the housing'cooperating with one of the rock arms for locking the movable contacts in their off position, said locking mechanism adapted to be manually operated to release said rock arm so that the movable contacts may be thrown into their on position, and means carried by the cover for engaging said locking means and adapted' to release the latter when the cover is closed to permit of the exterior manipulation of the switch.

8. In a switch of the character described, the combination of a casing provided with a hinged cover, a switch mechanism therein, including a rock shaft, a rock arm, a depending extension carried by the cover and coperatively associated with the rock arm, a trigger mechanism mounted in the casing and having operable connection with both depending extension and rock arm, whereby the movement of said rock arm will be prevented when the cover is open and whereby the opening of said cover will be prevented when the rock arm has moved the switch mechanism into circuit closing position.

9. In a switch of the character described, the combination of a casing provided with a hinged cover, a switch mechanism therein, a depending hook extension carried by the cover, a rock arm mounted in the side of the cover and operably associated with the switch mechanism, a projection carried by said rock arm and adapted to engage the hook extension to prevent the opening of the cover when the switch is in on position, a

trigger mechanism mounted in the side of the casing and having a hook extension adapted to'engage the projection of the rock arm when the cover is open to prevent the manipulation of the switch mechanism, said trigger being provided with a projection adapted to cooperate with the hook extension of the trigger and move it out of position to permit the free manipulation of the rock arm to make or break the circuit when the cover is closed. I

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BRYSON D. HORTON. Witnesses \VILLIAM F. HnssnL, NM. C. DUNN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

